2011年9月9日星期五

City jump-starts 2010 census count

In preparation for the 2010 census count starting in March, New Brunswick Mayor Jim Cahill Rosetta Stone Store announced the creation of a committee to spread awareness of the count and its importance.Cahill, speaking at City Hall, said the goal of the New Brunswick Complete Count Committee, composed of community leaders, is to achieve a full and fair count of more than 50,000 residents."Once reached, New Brunswick will become eligible for increased federal funding, more programs and services that we provide to our residents," Cahill said.United States Census Bureau Partnership Coordinator Reva Sears said the federal government has about $400 billion to allocate to communities based on the census results."It's about bringing more money back to our community," Sears said.This money could be used for improved housing, education, social service programs and other resources and services, she said."We have to make 50,000 mainly so that we can apply for more money," Complete Count Committee Co-Chair Roy Epps said. "It's as simple as that."He said while 50,000 residents is the goal, the committee is going to shoot for a count of 52,500 residents.Changes have been made to make the process simpler, Sears said. Households will no longer receive a long census form as they had in the past, but rather a 10-question questionnaire.Before 2000, every sixth household received the long form questionnaire to fill out, she said. The American Community Survey, a more detailed questionnaire that will be sent out every month not every decade and to a smaller portion of the population, is replacing the long form this year.This was changed because it took about five years to tabulate the information from the long form, Sears said. Communities would change too much and too quickly for the information to still be effective and relevant for use."This is the message that we're sending now: that it's a much simpler form, there's no long form anymore, [and there are] very simple questions," said Rosetta Stone Cheap Complete Count Committee Co-Chair Mariam Merced.It is important people understand why the census is conducted and for everyone to make sure they participate, she said."The requirements are really simple," Sears said. "You need to be human, you need to be breathing [and] you need to be living anywhere in New Brunswick."The census is safe for all who participate, including undocumented residents, Sears said. All information given to the United States Census Bureau is strictly confidential and not shared with police or other federal agencies."Title 13 of the U.S. Code protects your confidentiality," she said. "This is the message that we need to get out."The only information shared is statistical data, Sears said. The government may use this to redraw district lines for congressional representation or businesses may use it to consider relocating to an area. Census questionnaires will be mailed or delivered to homes on March 19 to be mailed back by April 1, Sears said. Households will be mailed a second form if the first is not received.There are also questionnaire assistance centers where people can fill out the form or ask for assistance, Sears said. The form is available in 10 different languages.If no form is received, census workers will visit homes up to six times, she said."This is how important it is that everybody is counted in your community," Sears said. College students are counted in the city their college is located in, she said. Colleges Rosetta Stone Italian V3 are responsible for counting their own students, and households are asked to leave college students off their questionnaire."In the committee, there are representatives from the University to make sure that the students who live here are counted here," Merced said.New Brunswick is a college town, and since students use the resources of the city, they need to participate in the census, she said.Incarcerated and military persons are also counted separately, Sears said.The bureau is also working hard to count those living on the streets or in shelters, she said."We are working with those organizations that work with that population to make sure they have a part in this to be counted," Sears said. Merced said the committee has been working since last summer to prepare for and spread information Rosetta Stone Languages about the count.In the 2000 census, the government counted 48,573 residents in New Brunswick, Cahill said."The 2000 census was the first in 40 years to show a significant change in our city's population," he said. "New Brunswick was found to be the fastest-growing urban center in the state of New Jersey."The city has improved many homes since then, he said. The committee is working to count as many residents as possible to show the city's progress as one of the fastest growing cities in the state.

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